Founder and President

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History was made!

On June 3, 2015, the Louie v. Louie court case marked the first time that a band member successfully sued a chief and council for taking a financial bonus off a compensation deal. The late Wayne Louie of the Lower Kootenay Indian Band in British Columbia was the plaintiff/appellant that alleged a breach of fiduciary duty against the chief (who was his nephew) and four (4) other past band councillors – and he won! 

The Lower Kootenay Indian Band is a small community that forms part of the Ktunaxa (Kootenay) Nation in south-eastern BC. 

BC’s highest court ordered the chief and the other four (4) defendants to return the money to the Band. But, the chief then ignored paying the court costs, so Wayne Louie obtained a garnishment order to take the money out of the chief’s personal bank account.

Rob Louie, also from the Lower Kootenay Indian Band, is the founder and president of BMAAAC. He is the nephew of the late Wayne Louie. Rob was the litigation strategist in Louie v. Louie. He worked with three (3) Vancouver law firms on this landmark case, and these law firms provided the late Wayne Louie with the best legal representation that created a path to a historic legal victory. 

Robert Louie, Sr. was the father of Rob Louie. In 1971, Robert Sr. broke new ground when he became the first person from the Lower Kootenay Band to graduate with a high school diploma. In 1981, Robert Sr. began walking the Red Road to raise Rob and his brother as a single dad. Robert Sr. was fluent in the Ktunaxa (Kootenay) language. He was a former RCMP Constable and Residential School Survivor.  For 50 years, he played a significant role in Rob's personal and professional life. Robert Sr. continued to walk the Red Road until he passed away on August 3, 2022. 

Together, Robert Louie Sr., Wayne Louie and Rob Louie helped set a precedent at their First Nation community that chief and council did not have the right to take a financial bonus without band members’ consent. Louie v. Louie continues to be a leading court case in Aboriginal Law.

Rob Louie’s professional experience, top-quality legal research skills, and connection to the legal community is the underpinning for BMAAAC. He holds a Diploma in Public Sector Management (University of Victoria, 1995), Bachelor of Arts degree in political science (University of Victoria, 1997), Bachelor of Laws degree (University of British Columbia, 2000) and Master’s in Law degree (York University, 2022). His past professional associations include: Law Society of BC, Canadian Bar Association, Trial Lawyers Association of BC and the Indigenous Bar Association. He also spoke at conferences at the Pacific Business & Law Institute (BC conference) and at the Canadian Congress on Inclusive Diversity and Workplace Equality (National conference).

Rob Louie is currently an ad hoc writer for Law360 (formerly The Lawyers Daily), as well as a published author of an article in a national journal entitled: "I Heard The Band Office Call My Name". https://www.proquest.com/docview/2448460682?pq-origsite=gscholar&fromopenview=true

Rob Louie is an active member of the recovery community. He speaks openly about his past by taking responsibility, and by telling his side of the story, so he is properly understood. His recovery consists of being monitored with random U/A’s, counselling sessions, traditional spiritual practices, AA/NA meetings, men’s support group, recovery literature, and by giving back to his First Nation in various ways.

With further healing, Rob Louie plans to seek re-admission to the Law Society of BC to practice law in the new year of 2024.